BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 12 July 1890, Page 4

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT.

MR HUTCHISON’S CHARGES. Wellington’, July 8. T Moke is likely to be heard in the House of the charges made against the Government last Wednesday by the member for Waitotara. It will be remembered that Mr Hutchison’s allegations were that in the proceedings relative to the two million loan of 1888, Ministers so administered the consolidated fund as to assist the Bank of New Zealand (one of their number being Chairman of Directorsab thebime) to the prejudice of the taxpayers, and that through the Agent-General the Government were the means of bolstering up tho Bank's position prior to the unsatisfactory disclosures made in March, 1889, and that the advance made last October by tho Colonial Treasurer to the New Plymouth Harbour Board was made under the guise of protecting the two and a-quarter million loan conversion scheme, and was really meant to suggest, through the Agent-General, that default would nob be made by the Harbour Boards. Subsequently, an article appeared in the “ Evening Press ” setting forth the charges which, it was understood, Mr Hutchison was prepared to make against the Ministry, and saying that unless this indictment was met and refuted Ministers were unfitted to hold their seats. The following correspondence has since passed. The Premier wrote to Mr Hutchison on Saturday: “I enclose two extracts from the * Evening Press ’ of yesterday. I have delayed taking any steps in refeience to tho subject ot them till I should be in possession of an authentic version of the statements you did make. It appears to me that the extracts supply what I required, bub, in order to avoid any mistake, I take the precaution of asking you to be so good as to inform me whether you are correctly represented by the statement that the extracts contain ‘ the essence and substance of tho charges made by the member for Waitotara in his speech on Wednesday last, which he will be prepared to support before a committee of the House.’” To which Mr Hutchison replied: “In answer to your letter, received this afternoon, I beg to state that the extract you enclose,headed ‘ Mr Hutchison's Indictment Against the Ministry,’does correctly express what I stated in the House; I hope by Monday afternoon to forward you a proof of the ‘ Hansard * report, so that you may be able to consider the charges in detail.” Ministers are awaiting the ‘Hansard’ proof before»taking action to bring the whole matter before the Public Accounts or some other Committee.